British fashion titan Dame Natalie Massenet says her 14-year relationship with Erik Torstensson has collapsed into a toxic dispute, alleging that he has launched a 'vindictive smear campaign' after publicly claiming she is violent, controlling, and a drug user, and an unfit mother to their son Jet Everest Torstensson. Torstensson, 47, co-founder of Frame, has said he was Jet's principal carer, and that the boy was born via surrogacy. The dispute has roiled fashion circles as both parties contest control over money, business interests and their family.
Disclosures in a New York custody filing leaked to the press include bombshells cited by Torstensson's side, alleging that Massenet would 'lash out physically', that she 'drank heavily' and was a 'regular' user of illegal drugs, including an MDMA overdose at Glastonbury. The file also described Massenet, now 60, as an unfit mother to their seven-year-old son, Jet Everest. A spokesman for Massenet said the filing was filed as a last resort after months of trying to mediate privately for the sake of their son. The spokesman asserted that the action is not in the interests of their child and points to what he described as Torstensson's improper use of the family court process, including leaking the custody filing to the media. The couple, who did not marry, had been together for 14 years before their split.
On August 20, Massenet filed a lawsuit in the California Superior Court in Los Angeles, accusing Torstensson of conning her out of $95 million—using her money and fashion connections, then reneging on a promise to repay. Her complaint also alleges he cheated on her and regularly hired prostitutes. In his response, Torstensson counters that Massenet drank heavily and, under the influence, would sometimes lash out physically, including a fight in which she clawed his arms until they bled. The filings present a stark, dual narrative of deceit and confrontation in a non-marital partnership that had become entwined with significant business interests.
Because the couple were not married, Massenet seeks damages for breach of contract, fraud and emotional distress. The Delaware of the case includes texts cited as evidence between Torstensson and a drug dealer, and between him and an unnamed woman who sent underwear selfies to him. The filings illustrate a bitter split that intersects both personal and professional realms for two figures who helped shape the modern fashion e-commerce and denim-brand ecosystems. The dispute also underscores how high-profile splits can spill into public and financial arenas when wealth, media exposure and influential networks are at stake.
Massenet, the founder of Net-a-Porter and former chairman of the British Fashion Council, has in recent years remained a fixture in fashion as a strategist and philanthropist. Her camp emphasizes privacy and private resolution for their child's sake, while also asserting a commitment to protecting her financial and professional interests. Torstensson's camp frames the case as a battle over control of assets tied to both partners’ businesses and reputations. The situation has drawn attention from industry observers who note that such disputes can carry lasting implications for brand associations, sponsorships, and creative collaborations.
The parties have not publicly commented beyond the filings, and lawyers for both sides have refrained from mediating public statements. Spokespeople for Massenet have reiterated a preference for private mediation and a focus on their son's welfare, while acknowledging a difficult personal episode that has become a point of public contention. The case remains active in Los Angeles courts, with financial and custody issues expected to play out in the coming months. As fashion’s attention remains fixed on the saga, industry watchers will be watching how the parties navigate the next steps—outside and inside the court system—while continuing to manage the business interests tied to one of the industry’s most recognizable names.